Function Title: Associate Child Protection Officer
Vacancy Number: HCR/VAC/18/86
Duty Station: Cairo, Egypt
Category and Grade: International UNOPS Contract IICA1
Duration: One year , with possibility of extension
Date of Issue: 10 December 2018
Closing Date: 15 December 2018
CONTEXT AND DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:
The population of concern in Egypt constitutes of refugees and asylum-seekers, predominantly from Syria, Iraq, Yemen and sub-Saharan Africa (principally Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and South Sudan). As of October 2018, the total population stood at 240,008 persons, with 191,246 asylum-seekers and 48,762 refugees. The majority of the population live in Greater Cairo (82.23%); while the rest are under the coverage of the UNHCR Alexandria Field Office. Children (under the age of 18 years) on the whole comprise of 39% of the population, with male ratios being higher at 52% and females at 48%.
As of October 2018, a total of 4,054 unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) were registered with the operation, 2,516 of whom were unaccompanied and 1,538 separated. Persons with specific needs across all nationalities registered amount to 34.9%, with the key specific needs documented being related to children, serious medical cases and disabilities.
In 2018, the overall protection environment for refugees in Egypt remains stable, and the Government of Egypt (GoE) has expressed added interest in assorted asylum related issues. Restrictions on mixed migration movements remain tightened, and more security related round-ups are ongoing. In all instances, UNHCR was able to advocate for its persons of concern (POC) and remained in continuous dialogue and good relations with the GoE. This engagement facilitated the overall protection of persons of concern; and particularly in areas related to child protection and issues of unaccompanied children, as well as for coordination; detention; mainstreaming refugees into national services; capacity building and commitments for continued cooperation.
The array of child protection services required in the operational environment required remains pertinent. Of all the age groups, children emerged as the most vulnerable owing to their age and related coping dynamics. For the age group of 15 to 18 years, the predominant concerns revolve around the need to reinforce budding systems of structured national prevention and response mechanisms, in close coordination with other partners such as UN sister agencies, national institutions and NGO’s. Limitations on available assistance provision for children and the need to keenly follow-up on identification and best interest processes are crucial, as well as supporting the identified partners undertaking the process to apply international standards to the process. Children needs related to community support, as well as the need to have community mobilisers and focal points/reinforcers for child protection at the community level are other requirements on top of the protection agenda, particularly as experience has demonstrated that the ability to respond to emergencies and child support needs, starting at the very basic level of shelter, diet, education, health and recreational opportunities. Beyond this and the need to foster a protective environment all round through advocacy and awareness raising, the need to have an age-out strategy for when these children and particularly UAC become youth is key, as a transitional link is indispensable, to ensure that there is no protection gap between childhood and the entry into youth, as for the latter category, issues related to fears concerning exploitation, abuse and risks of being targeted by smugglers and traffickers are heightened.
Supporting national institutions such as the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, as well as UNHCR Implementing Partners, as well as coordinating the overall child protection response for asylum seekers and refugees is a full time undertaking, that requires intensified investment in human resource. Additionally, as issues related to mixed migration continue to pick up, the monitoring of trends and making of analysis related to children on the move has acquired a significant interest for the donor community, host governments and beneficiaries alike, and hence the need to collect and analyze data and trends, particularly concerning the routes used by refugees from the predominant countries south of Egypt and the Horn of Africa, as well as from conflict torn countries like Syria, Iraq and Yemen remains crucial in arriving at identifying suitable solutions and limiting the potential of further dangerous journeys of this vulnerable population of concern. Reporting (periodic and on occasion as required) is fundamental and helps advance the primary commitments of the High Commissioner on this population. The human resource required to consolidate all this together as well as provide the daily case management guidance and ensure policy adherence will be required.
THE INCUMBENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOLLOWING ASSIGNED DUTIES:
1.) Support the operation-wide child protection prevention and response framework both internally as well as with external partners within the same coordination framework and concerning asylum seekers and refugees
2.) Oversee a team of Junior UNHCR staff assigned with child protection case management responsibilities.
3.) Support UNHCR Child Protection Implementing Partners adhere to project partnership agreements requirements as signed off with UNHCR.
4.) Support the CP/SGBV Officer in coordination activities with the entire child protection coordination structure.
5.) Support with training and capacitating both internal and external child protection actors.
6.) Report drafting and meetings preparations concerning child protection.
7.) Donor support mission assistance.
8.) Primary data trends monitoring and analysis.
9.) Support for child protection community monitoring activities and related engagements.
10.) Support with liaison functions between child protection team and other units e.g. education, community-based protection and program, on cross cutting issues.
REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Bachelors Degree in Social Sciences, Early Childhood Development, Child Psychology, Community Development, Law, and or any other closely related field. A higher qualification would be an advantage.
- The ability to write, speak and articulate clearly in English, as well as familiarity with any other second UN language.
- A Minimum of four years continous work experince with the UN or any INGO in the field of asylum, and at an international level.
- Evidence -based direct dealings with child protection procedures from identification to best interest determinations, case management, child community interventions, partnership dealings – including both national and other partners such as NGOs.
- Previous coordination experince.
- An urban environment famility in the refugee context
- Working in large teams and having some supervisory/basic management responsibilities
- Living ans staying in new environments of varied nature
- A sound knowledge of general conflict related information on the key eight nationalities of asylum in Egypt
- Experince in the Middle East operational context
- Familirity with the Regional Refugee Response Plan of the Syria funding appeal
- Knowledge of different donor engagements in Egypt and related priorities
- Previous work with UNHCR is an added advantage
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
- The incumbent of the position would need to be a sound, through and well tested individual. Mature and responsible enough to take in the high demands of Cairo Operation and city dynamics. It is a particulalry sacrificail position as often times, the demands would require long hours of work and the pace can be unrelenting.
- It would reqire a well experinced and grounded personality, somebody that would be able to embrace the vastness of the operation and needs at hand, and at the same time, offer the related support and add value to the program.
- The individual would require to be flexible and easy to adapt and change on short notice, as well as deal with varied personalities and complexities of challenging partnership in the operational environment.
- A knowledge of the region, its culture and dynamics would also be helpful and crucial. Comfort with the changing climate patterns is also essential as there are extremes of temperatures in the summer and winter months.
- Equally important is the need to commit to the adherance of UNHCR Code of Conduct requirements, embrace a team spirit approach, and uphold the values and tenants of the organisation, particulalry those concerning children. An intrisic interest and desire to help improve the fate of disdvantaged children is fundamental, and this the incumbent will require to demonstrate on a daily basis
• Interested candidates are to complete, sign and submit the new Personal History Form (Nov 2017 version) which includes a Letter of Interest for the specific position prior to the closing date of the vacancy notice through UNHCR Egypt’s recruitment portal: https://www.unhcr.org/eg-jobs/
Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a written test and will have to undergo an oral interview. Only short–listed candidates will be contacted.
UNHCR follows a strict non-smoking environment policy.
UNHCR is an equal opportunity employer and does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).
More Information
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